POLITICS
How long has Nicolás Maduro been president of Venezuela? How long is new term?
On July 28, Venezuelans went to the ballot box in the general elections, and a return of the incumbent president was confirmed.
In the early hours of Monday morning, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro declared victory in the presidential election, despite the opposition’s claim that their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, had won. The country’s electoral authority announced that Maduro secured a third six-year term with 51% of the vote, while Gonzalez received 44%.
However, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado stated that Gonzalez had actually won 70% of the vote, based on multiple independent exit polls and quick counts. Gonzalez urged his supporters to remain peaceful, and Machado revealed that the opposition has copies of about 40% of voting records. Edison Research predicted Gonzalez would win 65% of the vote, with Maduro at 31%, and local firm Meganalisis predicted 65% for Gonzalez and just under 14% for Maduro.
How long has Nicolas Maduro been president of Venezuela?
Nicolás Maduro has been in power for eleven years. He assumed office on April 19, 2013, after the death of Hugo Chávez, who became his mentor while serving as vice president during Chávez’s administration. Maduro was re-elected in 2018 for a second presidential term. However, this re-election, like the most recent, was surrounded by controversy due to its lack of transparency, and it did not receive recognition from some countries and international organisations.
Throughout a decade of power, Maduro’s government has been marked by a profound economic crisis, various political tensions, and international sanctions. Therefore, this Sunday’s elections were seen of utmost importance for the Venezuelan people, as it was the first time in a decade that an opposition candidate had a reasonable chance to end the dominance of chavismo in the country. It wasn’t to be.
The last time the opposition came close to winning was in the 2013 elections, when they voted for Chávez’s successor. Maduro won the election with 50.61% of the votes against the opposition’s 49.12%. The difference was just 223,599 votes, according to CNN data.
Global reaction to Maduro’s election win
Following the announcement by Venezuela’s electoral authority, leaders across the Americas and beyond have expressed their feelings, many of which indicate serious doubts about the legitimacy of the results:
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “We’ve seen the announcement just a short while ago by the Venezuelan electoral commission. We have serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.”
Chilean President Gabriel Boric: “Maduro’s regime must understand that the results are hard to believe. The international community and especially the Venezuelan people, including the millions of Venezuelans in exile, demand total transparency ... From Chile we will not recognize any result that is not verifiable.”
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo: “Venezuela deserves transparent, accurate results that adhere to the will of its people. We receive the results announced by the CNE (electoral authority) with many doubts. This is why electoral observation mission reports are essential, and today more than ever, must defend Venezuelans’ votes.”
Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou: “Not that way! It was an open secret. They were going to ‘win’ regardless of the actual results. The process up to election day and counting was clearly flawed. You cannot recognize a triumph if you can’t trust the forms and mechanisms used to achieve it.”
European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell: “The people of Venezuela voted on the future of their country peacefully and in large numbers. Their will must be respected. Ensuring full transparency in the electoral process, including detailed counting of votes and access to voting records at polling stations, is vital.”
Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea: “I condemn in all extremity the sum of irregularities with the intention of fraud committed by the Venezuelan government. Peru will not accept the violation of the popular will of the Venezuelan people.” “The Peruvian ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has been immediately recalled for consultations.”
Costa Rican Presidency: “The Government of Costa Rica categorically rejects the proclamation of Nicolas Maduro as president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which we consider to be fraudulent. We will work with the continent’s democratic governments and international organizations so that the sacred will of the Venezuelan people is respected.”
Argentine President Javier Milei, before results: “Argentina will not recognize another fraud, and hopes that this time the Armed Forces will defend democracy and popular will.”
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel: “Nicolas Maduro, my brother, your victory, which is that of the Bolivarian and Chavista people, has cleanly and unequivocally defeated the pro-imperialist opposition. They also defeated the regional, interventionist and Monroist right. The people spoke and the Revolution won.” Former president Raul Castro spoke with Maduro over the phone to congratulate him, Diaz-Canel’s office said.
Honduran President Xiomara Castro: “Our special congratulations and Democratic, Socialist and Revolutionary greetings to the President Nicolas Maduro and the brave people of Venezuela for their unobjectionable triumph, which reaffirms their sovereignty and the historical legacy of the Commander Hugo Chavez.”
Bolivian President Luis Arce: “We have closely followed this democratic festival and we welcome the fact that the will of the Venezuelan people at the polls has been respected. We want to ratify our willingness to continue strengthening our ties of friendship, cooperation and solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”